Toy eye

ABSTRACT

A toy eye includes a housing, a light module, and a shield. The housing defines an opening therein. The light module is received in the housing. The shield is positioned in the opening and comprises a light-permeating portion. The light module is configured for emitting light to illuminate the light-permeating portion.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a toy and, particularly, to a toy eye.

2. Description of Related Art

Toys in the form of some kind of creature usually include eyes. However, most toy eyes can not emit light, thus, are less attractive to users.

What is needed is a toy eye which can emit light.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a toy eye according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic, isometric view of the toy eye of FIG. 1 without a housing.

FIG. 3 is an assembled, isometric view of the toy eye of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an exploded view of a toy eye 100 is disclosed. The toy eye 100 includes a shell 120, a shield 130, a light module 140, a circuit board 160, and a base 180. The shield 130 is configured for simulating an eyeball. The shell 120 is mounted on the base 180, thus to form a housing 110 for housing the shield 130, the light module 140, and the circuit board 160.

The shell 120 defines a round opening 122. The shield 130 is positioned in the opening 122 of the shell 120. The shield 130 is shaped as a part of a spherical surface. The shield 130 includes a round light-permeating portion 132. The light-permeating portion 132 is configured for simulating a pupil. Light-permeating coating is painted on the light-permeating portion 132. The light-permeating portion 132 is black when the light module 140 is unlit. The light-permeating portion 132 is illuminated when the light module 140 is lit, and the color of the light-permeating portion 132 is the color of the light emitted by the light module 140. The shield 130 further includes two lugs 134 for connecting the shield 130 to the base 180.

The light module 140 includes light sources 142, 144, 146, 148 and a light guiding body 150. In this embodiment, the light sources 142, 144, 146, 148 are light emitting diodes and emit different colored light respectively. For example, the light sources 142, 144, 146, 148 are configured for emitting red, yellow, green, and blue light, respectively.

The light guiding body 150 includes a light-output portion 151 and light-input portions 152, 154, 156, 158. The light-input portions 152, 154, 156, 158 extend downwardly and outwardly from the light-output portion 151. Each of the light-input portions 152, 154, 156, 158 is configured for receiving light emitted by one of the light sources 142, 144, 146, 148 and directing the light to the light-output portion 151. The light-output portion 151 receives and mixes the light.

The circuit board 160 is round shaped and is received in the base 180. The circuit board 160 carries the light sources 142, 144, 146, 148. The light sources 142, 144, 146, 148 are spaced apart from each other. Each of the light sources 142, 144, 146, 148 can be turned on and off independently.

The base 180 is bowl shaped. The base 180 defines a concave 182 for housing the light-guiding body 150, the light sources 142, 144, 146, 148, and the circuit board 160. Two sockets 184 are formed on the inner surface of the base 180. The sockets 184 are configured for receiving the lugs 134.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in assembly, first, put the circuit board 160 in the concave 182 of the base 180. Second, put the light guiding body 150 above the circuit board 160 and align the light-input portions 152, 154, 156, 158 with the light sources 142, 144, 146, 148. Third, insert the lugs 134 of the shield 130 into the sockets 184 of the base 180, accordingly, the light-permeating portion 132 of the shield 130 is aligned with the light-output portion 151 of the light guiding body 150 correspondingly. Finally, connect the shell 120 to the base 180 by fastening, gluing, or other means.

The color of the toy eye 100 can be varied. When no light sources 142, 144, 146, 148 are lit, the color of the toy eye 100 is black. When only one of the light sources 142, 144, 146, 148 is lit, the color of the toy eye 100 is the color of the light emitted by the lit light source 142/144/146/148. When two or more light sources 142, 144, 146, 148 are lit, the color of the toy eye 100 is the color produced by the mixed light. When the light sources 142, 144, 146, 148 are lit in turn, the color of the toy eye 100 changes accordingly.

Moreover, it is to be understood that the disclosure may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. 

1. A toy eye comprising: a housing defining an opening therein; a light module received in the housing; and a shield positioned in the opening, comprising a light-permeating portion; wherein the light module is configured for emitting light to illuminate the light-permeating portion.
 2. The toy eye of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a base and a shell mounted on the base.
 3. The toy eye of claim 1, wherein the light module comprises a plurality of light sources and a light guiding body above the plurality of light sources.
 4. The toy eye of claim 3, wherein the plurality of light sources are spaced apart from each other.
 5. The toy eye of claim 4, wherein the light guiding body comprises a light-output portion and a plurality of light-input portions extending downwardly and outwardly from the light-output portion, each of the light-input portions is configured for receiving light emitted by one of the plurality of light sources and directing the light to the light-output portion, and the light-output portion is configured for mixing the light.
 6. The toy eye of claim 5, wherein the plurality light sources are configured for emitting out different colored light respectively.
 7. The toy eye of claim 6, wherein each of the light sources is configured to be turned on and off independently.
 8. The toy eye of claim 3, further comprising a circuit board received in the housing and configured for carrying the plurality of light sources.
 9. The toy eye of claim 2, wherein the shield comprises lugs, and the base comprises sockets for receiving the lugs.
 10. The toy eye of claim 7, wherein the plurality of light sources comprise four light sources, and the plurality of light-input portions comprise four light-input portions.
 11. The toy eye of claim 10, wherein the four light sources are configured for emitting red, yellow, green, and blue light, respectively. 